The Jackie Wilson Story

To christen its impressive new Uptown home, Black Ensemble revisits one of its biggest biographical hits. Jackie Wilson, the Detroit-native singer dubbed “Mr. Excitement,” was first depicted on Black Ensemble’s stage in 2000. For the remount, Kelvin Roston Jr. steps into Wilson’s shoes. Jackie Taylor’s script hits the major points of Wilson’s life and career with all the nuance of a Wikipedia entry, providing an informative if inelegant overview of Wilson’s life, but as in many Black Ensemble shows, it’s the music that’s the real star. Roston uncannily impersonates Wilson’s jittery dance moves and his soulful, soaring vocals.